About 200 people arrested during the June 25 Gen Z anniversary protests were on Friday released on cash bail after the Milimani Law Courts ordered each accused to deposit Ksh1,000 pending the hearing of their criminal case.
The protesters appeared before Chief Magistrate Teresia Nyangena on 26th June, 2025 facing charges of obstruction following their arrest during the demonstrations held across Nairobi on Wednesday.
During the proceedings, a team of defence lawyers urged the court to grant favourable bail terms, arguing that the accused were entitled to their constitutional right to liberty while awaiting trial.
After considering submissions from both sides, the court directed that each accused person be released upon depositing a cash bail of Ksh1,000 and scheduled the matter for further directions on a later date.
Immediately after the ruling, former Nairobi Governor and National Economic Development Party (NEDP) leader Mike Mbuvi Sonko, who was present in court, settled the cash bail for all the accused persons at an estimated total of Ksh200,000, enabling their immediate release from custody.
Sonko said his decision was intended to ensure the young protesters reunited with their families as they prepare to defend themselves before the court.
Earlier in the day, he also extended assistance to a female accused who appeared in court with her infant child by offering to cater for the baby’s immediate needs.
The criminal case against the protesters remains pending before the Milimani Chief Magistrate’s Court, with the accused expected to return for further court proceedings on a date to be fixed by the court.
